It was discovered on 17 October 1906, by German astronomer August Kopff at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany.

[2] Van Biesbroeck orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.1–2.7 AU once every 3 years and 9 months (1,354 days).

[1][7] This minor planet was named after renowned Belgian–born observational astronomer George Van Biesbroeck, who naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1922.

[2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 January 1974 (M.P.C.

The George Van Biesbroeck Prize, awarded by the American Astronomical Society for achievements in astronomy, also bears his name.